Tu Bishvat, a New Year for Trees

By Rabbi Mendy Piekarski

Oncethere was a man who was traveling through the desert, hungry, thirsty, and tired. He had been walking for days, with no food or water in sight. Just when he was about to give up hope, he came across a tree that bore luscious fruit and provided plenty of shade. A spring of water flowed beneath it. He ate the fruit, drank the water, and rested in the shade, feeling grateful for the gifts the tree had given him.

As he was about to leave, he turned to the tree and said, “Tree, O tree, what should I bless you with? Should I bless you with sweet fruit? Your fruit is already sweet. Should I bless you with plentiful shade? Your shade is plentiful. Should I bless you with a spring of water running beneath you? A spring of water already runs beneath you. The only thing I can bless you with is that all the trees planted from your seeds may be like you.”

This story is from the Talmud, and it reminds us of the beauty and generosity of nature. It also reminds us of the importance of being grateful for what we have, and the impact that our words can have. The man in the story realized that he couldn’t bless the tree with anything it didn’t already have, but he still chose to bless it in a way that would benefit others.

I often think of this story when I go on nature hikes, particularly in the canyon. The canyon area is home to at least nine different plant communities, each with their own unique combination of flora and fauna. There are only four other places in the world that have a similar type of plant community, making it a truly special place.

Despite all the beauty, there is something at the source of it all that often goes unnoticed—the tree roots. While the flowers, fruit, and shade are what catch the eye and provide beauty, it is actually the roots that are crucial for a tree’s survival. The roots provide stability, absorb water and nutrients, and hold the tree in place during strong winds. The part of the tree that we don’t see is what contributes the most to its survival.

Similarly, in our lives, it is possible to pride ourselves and others by what we produce and